Salzburg prepares for Easter Festival

The Austrian city of Salzburg embraces its rich musical history in Easter with a unique festival.

This year the Salzburg Easter Festival opens on March 15th and has a programme full of opera and classical concerts.

First held in 1967, the annual event has gained something of a cult following over recent years with music lovers from across Europe descending on Salzburg for the cultural festival.

The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra will continue its rendition of Wagner's the Ring of the Nibelung - first started last year and due for a finale in 2010 - under the guide of conductor Stephane Braunschweig.

Wagner's influence will also be noted at this year's opera Die Walkure (translated into English as the Valkyrie) which will be held at the Large Festival Hall at 17:00 on March 15th and March 24th.

In 2005, festival organisers decided to open up the appeal of the festival with a series of contemporary music events. The new element has seen classical interpretations of work by Jimi Hendrix and George Gershwin among others.